Report cites Navy sonar in whale stranding

Published 4:00 am, Friday, April 28, 2006

2006-04-28 04:00:00 PDT Washington -- Federal marine specialists have concluded that Navy sonar was the most likely cause of the unusual stranding of melon-headed whales in a Hawaiian bay in 2004.

The appearance of as many as 200 of the normally deep-diving whales in Hanalei Bay in Kauai occurred while a major American-Japanese sonar training exercise was taking place at the nearby Pacific Missile Range Facility.

The report is the latest in a series of scientific reviews linking traditional mid-frequency naval sonar to whale strandings. The sonar has been used for decades, but it was only recently the apparent connection to strandings was established.

The Navy says it was virtually impossible for its sonar to have led to the Hanalei Bay stranding.

The Navy is planning another major sonar testing maneuver in the same area in July and -- for the first time -- NOAA has formally asked the Navy to use expanded measures to protect whales from the possible effects of its sonar.

The active sonar used by navies around the world sends out loud pings of sound that appear to frighten and disorient whales, especially deep-diving species like melon-headed whales.